Villa to Village: The Transformation of the Roman Countryside in Italy, c.400-1000

In Villa to Village Riccardo Francovich and Richard Hodges challenge the historical view that hilltop villages in Italy were first founded in the tenth century. Drawing upon evidence from recent excavations, the authors show that the makings of the medieval village lie earlier, in the demise of the Roman villa in late antiquity. The book describes the lively debate between archaeologists and historians on this crucial issue. It also examines the evidence for the first manorial villages of the Carolingian era and describes how these were transformed into the familiar feudal villages that are characteristic of much of Italy. Useful maps, plans and reconstructions illustrate the accessible text.